Lawyer

Has the Japanese bar exam become easier?

Forty years ago, it was said that, relative to population size, there were ten times as many lawyers in the United States as there were in Japan. What is that ratio today?

In Japan, is it possible for someone to have an easier time passing the exam because their parent is a lawyer or a person of influence?

What about the role of personal connections during the "legal apprenticeship" (judicial training) period that follows passing the exam—surely that plays a part, doesn't it?

For instance, could a parent—who happens to be a senior lawyer—pull strings to ensure their child, who has just passed the bar exam, gets placed under a specific mentor during their apprenticeship? If such a thing were to happen, would it just be a coincidence?

I know a lawyer—the head of a law firm—who received a minor disciplinary sanction (a formal reprimand). To what extent does this affect his ability to attract or retain clients?

I don't want to reveal too many personal details, but the issue involved money, and the reprimand was published in the Official Gazette. How many lawyers receive a formal reprimand in a typical year?

What is his reputation like?